Oceanological and meteorological station

ABSTRACT

Equipment establishing a station for providing for oceanological and meteorological measurements in the continental shelf region and in similar, shallow parts of the ocean, and having a base anchoring the station to the bottom of the ocean, a mast pivotally linked to the base for up and down pivoting as well as for turning on a vertical axis; and variable buoyancy is provided at the mast above the point of pivoting. Instrumentation, including sensing means for taking oceanological and meteorological readings as well as a radio receiver transmitter and a controller are disposed on top of the mast.

United States Patent 1191 Bauer Aug. 28, 1973 OCEANOLOGICAL AND3,329,015 7/1967 Bakke 6! al 73/170 A METEOROLOGCAL STATION 3,572,4083/1971 l-lnot 114/230 X 3,193,853 7/1965 Alexander 73/170 A UX [75]Inventor: Peter Bauer, Bremen, Germany [73] Assignee: Ernokaumfahrtteclmlk GmbH, Primary Examiner-James J Gill Bremen, GermanyAttorney-Ralf 1'1. Siegemund et al.

22 F1 d: A 2 1971 1 57 ABSTRACT [21] 167999 Equipment establishing astation for providing for oceanological and meteorological measurementsin the [30] Foreign Application Priority Data continental shelf regionand in similar, shallow parts of Aug. 5, 1970 Gennany P 20 38 870.9 theand havinl a base il the bottom of the ocean, a mast pivotally linked tothe 52' US. Cl 73/170 A base for P and down P s as as for turning on 511I111. 01 G0lv 9/00, 001w 1/00 a vertical axis; and variable buoyancy isProvided at the 58 Field of Search 73/170 A; 9/8 P mast above the Pointof pi s- Instrumentation.

cluding sensing means for taking oceanological and [56] References Citedmeteorological readings as well as a radio receiver UNITED STATESPATENTS trrlaarsitsmitter and a controller are disposed on top of the2,955,626 10/1960 Hartley 9/8 P x 3,409,055 11/1968 Bily 9/8 P X 5Claims, 1 Drawing Flgure VER TIC/1L ANGLE S E N55 joint wft) verticalanyle lock OCEANOLOGICAL AND METEOROLOGICAL STATION The presentinvention relates to apparatus and equipment for providing foroceanological and meteorological measurements, particularly in thecontinental shelf region and other shallow waters.

Floatation and buoyancy devices equipped with suitable sensor systemsare usually employed for oceanological and meterological measurements.Oceanological data are acquired when the device is submerged wherebybasically there is no limit to the depth that can be probed. The devicesurfaces by buoyancy control for taking meteorological measurements.These controlled buoyancy devices dive or surface and take the necessaryreadings in response to programmed controllers, whereby individualcontrol sequences are usually triggered by remote control, e.g., throughradio signals.

The known buoyancy devices, however, do not operate quite satisfactorilyin shallow waters near coastal regions where there are strong currentsand, possibly, high waves of short wave length. The device in accordancewith the invention is particularly destined for operation under theseunfavorable conditions, and is to'be preferably in the continental shelfregion and similar, relatively shallow parts of the ocean.

in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, it issuggested to provide the following combination of elements. (a) There isto bean anchoring device for establishing a base and'stationary supporton the bottom of the sea; (b) a mast is linked to the an-- chorin gdevice, and providedfor rotation about a verti cal axis as well as forup and down pivoting; ('c) a buoyancy device is connected to the mastfor providing con trolled buoyancy, soas to pivot the mast'up and down;((1) oceanological and meteorological instrumentation, probes, sensorsetc. are to be provided and mounted-to the mast, preferably,-they aremounted on top of the mast, a controller is'provided for operation'ofthe measuring equipment as well as for controlling operation of thebuoyancy device. The controller may be part of the instrumentation atthe top of the mast, though power components of the controllerwill bedisposed below, near the power supply at the bottom of the arrangement.

The buoyancy device is preferably a container or tank that can beflooded or blown on command from the controller. The container maybe'open at the bottom, and the top thereof connects to'a pressureconduit leading up from a compressed air tank which is disposed near thelower end of the mast or at thebase. Alternatively, the buoyancy devicemaybe a closed container with discharge control valve, but alsoconnected to such a compressed air tank. Still alternatively, the

buoyancy device may be a closedcontainer with flooding valve and waterpump; v

The buoyancy container'may have anyxconfig'uratio'n. Therefore, the mastitself may at least in-part'be of hollow construction, so that theenclosed volume isavailable for buoyancy development. Alternatively,asliding weight is disposed in the mast for buoyancy control.

A goniometer, protractor or the like should'be dis posed between mastand anchor, or a pressure gauge should be provided at the tip of themastso as to determine and to detect the vertical angle of the mast, i.e.,the height of the tip above the ocean bottom. in either case, afastening and arresting device for the pivotal displacement of the mastis controlled by the respective height detecting instrument, so as tomaintain the instrument pack temporarily in a particular level,particularly when the instrumentation is submerged, for example, fortaking oceanological data readings over a long period of time.

The mast, as pivoting on a vertical axis, is capable of assuming alwaysthe most favorable position relative to ocean currents, wind or tidechanges etc., to offer least resistance to the powerful forces of theocean. Power supply for this meterological and oceanological station maybe provided in the anchoring device or in the lower portion of the mast,to provide little inhibition for buoyancy.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing outand distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as theinvention, it is believed that the invention, the objects and featuresof the irivention and further objects, features and advantages thereofwill be better understood from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

The FIGURE shows somewhat schematically an example of the preferredembodiment of the present invention.

Turning now to the detailed description of the drawing, referencenumerals 15 and 16 respectively denote ocean'bottom and surface in theparticular location of installing the novel equipment and station. Ananchoring device 1 has been lowered to the bottom 15 and firmly securedthereat, though its own weight may suffice for anchoring the" station.

A mast is linked to anchoring base 1 by means of a universal joint 3,so'that the mast may turn on a vertical axis to assume least resistanceto ocean currents. The mast is also capable of pivoting up and down inany direction, possibly following vertical ocean current variations. Themast is comprised of a central pipe 4, trussing elements 5 and bracingwires 6; Instrumentation 2 is provided at the tip of the mast,containing probes etc.

for taking" meteorological and oceanological data readings; On top ofthe instrument housing is a radio transmitter and receiver 14. Acontroller is responsive to a radio command'signals and is likewisedisposed in the instrument housing.

A container or buoyancy controlled tank 7 is disposed in thecentralportion of the mast; the tank can be flooded or blown on command forbuoyancy, control; Tank 7 does not have to be in the middle of the mast,but should always be far enough submerged to be as little as possibleinfluenced by waves in the ocean surface. On the other hand, theleverage for mast pivoting by buoyancy is better, the higher theposition of the tank.

The various possibilities of buoyancy control have been outlined above.The interior of container or tank 7 communicates with pipe 4, preferablyvia command controlled valves. The lower end of pipe 4 communicates witha compressed air tank 8 so that selectively tank 7 can be blown orflooded. In the illustrated position tank 7 is presumed to have beenblown so that the top of the mast with instrumentation 2 and radioantenna 14 is above the water line 16.

Near the low point of the mast, i.e., as close to the pivot as possible,there is disposed the (rather heavy) power supply equipment, including acompressor 9, accumulator battery 11, a battery charger 12, a motor 13,such as a diesel engine, for driving compressor and charger l l, and afuel tank for the engine. These elements are subject to control inresponse to command and control signals from the controller ininstrumentation set 2.

The device as described operates as follows: In the illustratedposition, instrumentation 2 takes meteorologic readings. The radioequipment 14 communicates with a shore station, an offshore station, aship etc.; in particular, the radio equipment may broadcast coded data,e.g., while the command controller runs the instrumentation through aprogrammed data reading and acquisition cycle as is usual for telemetry.Alternatively, the transmitter may broadcast data at a high rate, thedata having been acquired previously and stored.

After completion, either automatically or on command received via theradio link, the controller issues command signals for tank 7 to beflooded, in that, for example, a remote controlled valve discharges airfrom the tank. Accordingly, the mast, particularly the tip, will dive.Now, oceanological data are read, particularly,-for example, duringdiving. The data are stored in suitable facilities that are part of theinstrumentation. After a pre-programmed period (or after the storagefacility is filled to capacity), the tank 7 is blown. In the particularexample as illustrated, it is presumed that tank 7 is blown by admittingair from container 8 to the tank. After the mast tip has surfaced, thetransmitter of radio equipment 14 will transmit the data from the datastorage facility. Data may have been acquired also (or only) duringre-surfacing.

As can be seen from the drawing, the pipe 4 leads up to the tip of themast. Therefore, in the illustrated position, the upper end of the pipeis aboe the surface. That top may be closed by a valve, which can beopened. Now, engine 13 and compressor 9 are turned on, and air is suckedinto the pipe to replenish the supply in compressed air tank 8. Airneeded for combustion in the engine is likewise received through pipe 4.Concurrently, the charger 12 may recharge the batteries. The generatorincluded in the charger may directly supply electrical energy to theequipment as long as the top of the mast is above the surface.

Instrumentation for measuring the angle of the mast relative to thevertical may be included in instrumentation 2, or placed anywhere on themast, to determine the relative height of the instruments above thebottom of the sea, and whether the equipment is above orbelow thesurface. Alternatively, the instrumentation may include particularpressure gauge for determining the position of the mast tip relative tothe surface level 16. The position data, thus, provided is indicative ineither case of the height position of the instrument pack 2. The heightdetermining data may be fed to the command controller as part of theinput thereof, for programmed overall operation control.

It can readily be seen that upon sustaining a particular state offilling in tank 7, the instrumentation set 2 can be maintained in aparticular submerged position, so as to take oceanological readings in aparticular level over an extended period of time. For this, it may beadvisable to include controlled locking means, e.g., in the universaljoint 3 for arresting the position of the mast, but only as to thevertical angle. The locking means will respond to the height measuringequipment. The preprogrammed control will unlock the mast when the datahave been read (or when the data storage facility is filled to capacity)and the tank will be blown. After surfacing the acquired data aretransmitted, and the station may wait thereafter for receiving acommand, e.g., to take meteorological readings or to begin a newoceanological measuring cycle etc.

Various other possibilities for buoyancy control have already beenmentioned. As there are times in which the power equipment in effectcommunicates with the surface (via pipe 4 as well as via the radio linkand the radio equipment) there is little basic restriction as to thetype of power supply that can be used. In lieu of batteries fuel cellscan be used. In lieu of a diesel engine, there may be an electric motorto drive all of the equipment (of course, a recharger will not be neededin that case). As stated, the power pack may be in the anchored base, soas to completely relieve the mast pivoting operation from any weight ofthese parts. However, the compressor and the compressed air tank arepreferably on the lower end of the mast, so that the lower pipe end cancommunicate directly with these elements, obviating the need forarticulated conduit means. As the compressor is on the mast, the enginebetter be also on the mast to simplify construction of the drivingtrain. However, a large fuel supply and/or a large battery may well beplaced on or in the base 1. The weight distribution may vary in theindividual cases, and will depend on trade off between constructioncosts for buoyancy control and for the power supply and its connections.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but allchanges and modifications thereof not constituting departures from thespirit and scope of the invention are intended to be included.

I claim:

1. Equipment establishing a station for providing for oceanlogical andmeteorological measurements in the continental shelf region and similarshallow parts of the ocean, comprising in combination:

first means for anchoring to the bottom of the ocean,

to establish stationary support;

a mast pivotally linked to the first means for up and down pivoting aswell as for turning on a vertical axis;

means for detecting the angular position of the mast tip relative toanchored bottom, i.e., the height of the tip above the anchoring meanson the ocean bottom;

second means for providing variable buoyancy and connected to the mastabove the point of pivoting;

instrumentation on the mast including sensing means for takingoceanological and meteorological readings; and

means under control of the detecting means for arresting and locking theup/down pivotal position of the mast in selectible and controlledpositions wherein the instrumentation has particular vertical positionsabove or below the sea level, the ability of turning on the verticalaxis remaining during said position arresting and locking.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, there being a radio receiving andtransmitting equipment disposed on the tip of the mast.

3. Equipment as in claim 1, the second means including a buoyancycontrol tank and means for selectively flooding and blowing the tank,there being means for controlling the flooding and blowing of the tank.

for repressurizing the compressed air tank, the pipe leading up to thetip of the mast so that air can be sucked there through by thecompressor when the mast tip is above the water surface.

1. Equipment establishing a station for providing for oceanlogical andmeteorological measurements in the continental shelf region and similarshallow parts of the ocean, comprising in combination: first means foranchoring to the bottom of the ocean, to establish stationary support; amast pivotally linked to the first means for up and down pivoting aswell as for turning on a vertical axis; means for detecting the angularposition of the mast tip relative to anchored bottom, i.e., the heightof the tip above the anchoring means on the ocean bottom; second meansfor providing variable buoyancy and connected to the mast above thepoint of pivoting; instrumentation on the mast including sensing meansfor taking oceanological and meteorological readings; and means undercontrol of the detecting means for arresting and locking the up/downpivotal position of the mast in selectible and controlled positionswherein the instrumentation has particular vertical positions above orbelow the sea level, the ability of turning on the vertical axisremaining during said position arresting and locking.
 2. Apparatus as inclaim 1, there being a radio receiving and transmitting equipmentdisposed on the tip of the mast.
 3. Equipment as in claim 1, the secondmeans including a buoyancy control tank and means for selectivelyflooding and blowing the tank, there being means for controlling theflooding and blowing of the tank.
 4. Equipment as in claim 3, therebeing a compressed air tank near the lower end of the mast, the mastincluding a pipe connecting the comprised air tank to the buoyancycontrolled tank.
 5. Equipment as in claim 4, including a compressor forrepressurizing the compressed air tank, the pipe leading up to the tipof the mast so that air can be sucked there through by the compressorwhen the mast tip is above the water surface.